I often blog about the differences between Canadians and Americans. As much as we share culturally, we also have very divergent values and attitudes and no one personifies the chasm better than Stompin' Tom.
To my thousands of American and International readers, if you want to know what a true Canadian is, google Tom, or better still, try and get hold of his music. Every song on his record number of 50 albums is about Canada. Every song contains the names of hamlets, villages and towns from Newfoundland to British Columbia and up into the Northwest Territories. Every song will tell you something about this great country, its people, its beauty, its culture and its work ethic.
Tom didn't ride the big highways, he hitchhiked the back roads and road the rails for almost 20 years before he was signed to EMI and started to make some money. "I know every blade of grass in every town in every province in this beautiful country," he would say.
The only other Canadian musical icons I can name are Leonard Cohen, for his distinct poetic ballads, and Gordon Lightfoot, for his brilliant work trumpeting Canadian achievements and unique folklore.
Tom was awarded the Order of Canada and even had a stamp franked in his honour. As a proud Ottawa Valley girl, I can't say enough about the guy. Just wait 'til Lightfoot passes, the accolades will be overwhelming.
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I agree a thousand time and very well said Nancy. However, what about Hagood Hardy,
ReplyDeleteAnn Murray, Molly Johnson, those people stayed in Canada and always promoted Canada and still do.Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours,
B.A.M.F.
Anne Murray, et all, could have been stars anywhere -- and were. But Stompin' Tom could only have been a star in Canada because only Canadians "got" him. He was "Tim Hortons" and "Bob and Doug McKenzie" -- understood only by Canadians.
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